E- Zine - September 2005

WELCOME to the PROTOCOL PLUS MONTHLY E-ZINE

IN TODAY'S ISSUE:

Tips to Outclass Your Competition – Have a Dining Practice Party

Our dining skills are the most visible state of our manners. They are noticed but rarely discussed. When we observe poor dining behavior, we unconsciously make a judgment about that person and the company they represent. Follow these rules to make a favorable impression in any dining situation.

  • STOP! WAIT! Do not start eating when your food arrives. Wait until everyone has been served or your host leads the way. The host signals the beginning by picking up the napkin and placing it in his/her lap. The host signals the end of the meal by placing the napkin on the table.
  • Remember the BMW rule.
    B (BREAD) on the left side of your plate
    M (MEAL) in the center
    W (WATER) on your right.
    If someone steals yours, go with the flow as best you can and don’t even mention it.
  • Cut only one piece of meat at a time.
  • If you need to leave the table, simply say in a quiet voice “Please excuse me.” Nothing else.
  • The Salt and Pepper Shakers are married. Pass them together hand to table.
Knowing the rules of the dining room table allows you to be at ease in any dining setting. They are easily mastered with knowledge and practice. Dining skills are life skills that can make a difference in your success. Call 405-341-3216 to schedule a practice party for your office. If you’re embarrassed because you don’t know dining rules, we can have a private dinner in a restaurant of your choice.

The Coach’s Corner – The story of the Carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort.

Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized the outcome, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely.

Coaching questions:
  • What kind of a house (life) are you building?
  • How is your life aligned with your values?
  • If you had life to live over again, how would it look?
  • What can you do right now to make the biggest difference in your life?
  • What’s one thing you would like to do to change your house?
  • What’s stopping you?
Life is about choices. It’s not about right or wrong, it’s about making conscious choices. A masterful coach will help you explore these choices so you can build your house wisely. Call today for your no-obligation, coaching session. This 30-minute confidential session will give you the experience of coaching. To schedule your session, call 405-341-3216.

Quotes of the Month

"The first rule of holes: When you are in one, stop digging."
         --- Moley Ivins

"Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot".
         --- Clarence Thomas

Ask the Expert - How to handle conflict with a co-worker.

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